HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-2009 TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2009 AT 7:30 PM
THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD
Those present: Glenn E. Morey, Supervisor
Ellard L. Sovocool, Councilman
Donald F. Scheffler, Councilman
Sheldon C. Clark, Councilman
Victoria Monty, Attorney for the Town
Absent: Richard B. Gamel, Councilman
Also present: Melody Scheffler, Dave Sanders, Margaret Palmer, Donald Palmer, Cindy
Vicedomini, Dewey Dawson, John Norman, Chris Norman, Jacalyn
Spoon, Matt Cooper, Gary Coats, Elizabeth Brennan, Richard C. Case, Jr.,
April Scheffler.
MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the minutes
of the January 6, 2009 meeting as presented.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 416-148 of the General Fund for the Year 2008 in the amount of $1,141.00
were presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to approve the 2008
General Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 12-54 of the General Fund for the Year 2009 in the amount of $270,123.69
were presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the 2009
General Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey.
Claim Numbers 237-239 of the Highway Fund for the Year 2008 in the amount of $6,981.85
were presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilman Scheffler, seconded by Councilman Sovocool, to approve the 2008
Highway Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey.
Town Board Minutes Page 2 February 10, 2009
Claim Numbers 2-22 of the Highway Fund for the Year 2009 in the amount of$54,061.87 were
presented for audit.
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Clark, to approve the 2009
Highway Bills for payment.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey.
Supervisor Morey offered Privilege of the Floor. Margaret Palmer came forward and asked the
Board for an executive session following the Board Meeting.
Monthly Reports:
Elizabeth Brennan, Bookkeeper/Highway Clerk - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review. Some of the 2008 accounts are still being closed out transfers were requested.
RESOLUTION#09-014 - 2008 BUDGET TRANSFERS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,that the Town Board hereby approves the following 2008 Budget Transfers:
General Fund- Town Wide:
From: Contingency A1990.4 ..$7,016.90
To: Justice Clerk, Personal A1110.13 2414.90
Bookkeeper, Personal A1220.12 33.39
Tax Collector, Contractual A1330.4 2 05
Buildings, Contractual A1620.4 .2,006.48
Central Printing, A1670.4 ..4.10
Highway Clerk, Personal A5010.12 113.30
Health Insurance A9060.8 2,442.74
Highway Fund- Town Wide:
From: Snow Removal, Sick Leave DA5142.12 $3,434.20
To: Snow Removal, Personal DA5142.1 3,434.20
From: Service Other Governments, Contractual DA5148.4 .$52,000.00
To: Machinery, Equipment DA5130.2 52,000.00
Town Board Minutes Page 3 February 10, 2009
RESOLUTION #09-015 - ENCUMBER 2008 MONIES TO 2009 BUDGET
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
Highway Fund- Town Wide:
Machinery Equipment DA5130.2 .$75,000.00 for Tractor/Broom
Machinery Equipment DA5130.2 52,000.00 for Loader
Highway Fund, Part Town:
General Repairs, Contractual DB5110.4 3,400.00 for Road Project
Gary Coats, Code/Fire Enforcement Officer - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review. He told the Board that a subdivision application had been submitted by Pat Shaw for a
5-lot subdivision and then had changed the plan to a 4-lot subdivision and was requesting a $20
refund on the application fee.
RESOLUTION-#09-016 -REFUND TO PAT SHAW
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves refunding $20.00 of the subdivision
application fee to Pat Shaw.
RESOLUTION#09-017 - CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO
ATTEND CONFERENCE
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED,that the Town Board approves the payment of expenses for the Code Enforcement
Officer, Gary Coats, to attend the New York State Building Code Conference, April 14 -17,
2009, in Syracuse.
Richard C. Case,Jr., Highway Superintendent - The Highway Department is still dedicated to
snow and ice removal. We have a little break to catch up on repairs, as you notice in the
vouchers. I've been closing the Highway accounts with Liz and as of tonight, we have those
numbers. We're working on pot holes. Pete Can has started working on the equipment
inventory.
April L. Scheffler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector - Submitted monthly reports for the Board's
review. Had a call from Gary Watrous who said that Kinney Drugs had shut down the part of
their operation for building stores in smaller communities, so Groton would not be getting a drug
store at this time, as was hoped. However, the response to the surveys indicated that Groton
Town Board Minutes Page 4 February 10, 2009
would be a good place for a drug store and that might still be an option when the economy picks
up again. Plans were underway to begin a dog enumeration and a sample contract had been
given to the Board and attorney for review. There was also a kennel contract from Country
Acres for the Board and attorney to review.
Supervisor Morey - Also, April got a grant for this year's Olde Home Days to have a
photography exhibit too.
Victoria Monty,Attorney for the Town - Had nothing to report.
John Norman and A. D. Dawson, Town Justices - Monthly reports had been submitted for the
Board's review. Judge Norman introduced, Cindy Vicedomini, the temporary court clerk
appointee. He told the Board that she had been doing an excellent job and Court had been
running smoothly with Cindy at the helm.
The Board welcomed Cindy.
Councilman Donald Scheffler, as Recreation Coordinator - Winterfest is this Saturday at the
Elementary School from 9-4. It starts at 10 but breakfast is at 9. There will be a lot of indoor
activities if we don't have snow.
Supervisor Morey reminded everyone to review the M & T Investment Report.
Supervisor Morey introduced Steve Locey, from Locey & Cahill, LLC, who was the health
insurance consultant for the Tompkins County Council of Governments. Mr. Locey presented an
overview of the proposed health insurance consortium for all Tompkins County municipalities.
The benefits of joining a consortium include cost savings, more protection from losses by being
part of a larger group, more stable and predictable rates, and more control over the rate of
increases and the timing of budget decisions. At this point municipalities should become
familiar with the cooperative agreement and the concept of the consortium. As the consortium
continues to develop, more information will be provided and municipalities will be asked to join
the consortium sometime between May and June 2009. Mr. Locey explained several aspects of
the plan and passed out information. Information is also available on the Tompkins County
website.
RESOLUTION#09-018 -APPOINT GLENN MOREY AS REPRESENTATIVE TO
TOMPKINS COUNTY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
MOVED by Councilman Sovocool, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark
Abstain - Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoints Glenn Morey as the Town of Groton
representative to the Tompkins County Council of Governments.
Town Board Minutes Page 5 February 10, 2009
RESOLUTION#09-019 -WAIVE FEES FOR BUILDING PERMITS FEES
FOR ACCESS TO HOME GRANTS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby waives the fees for building permits issued for
projects being done through the Better Housing for Tompkins County Access to Home Grant.
RESOLUTION #09-020 - TOWN CLERK TO ATTEND CONFERENCE
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Clark
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the paying of expenses for the Town Clerk,
April Scheffler, to attend the New York State Town Clerks Convention in Rochester, April 26-
29, 2009.
RESOLUTION#09-021 -APPOINT PLANNING BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby approves the appointment of Barbara Clark as Chair
of the Planning Board and Edward Neuhauser as Vice Chair.
Work Sessions for Code review were set for 6:00 pm, Tuesday, February 24 and 6:00 pm,
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 .
RESOLUTION#09-022 -APPOINT DOG CONTROL OFFICERS
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby appoint Paul Burhans as Town of Groton Dog
Control Officer and Lindsay Andersen as Deputy Dog Control Officer.
RESOLUTION#09-023 - CONTRACT FOR DOG ENUMERATION CONTRACT
MOVED by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Sovocool
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the contract
for dog enumeration between Rich and Gena Leonard and the Town of Groton pursuant to
review and approval by the Town Attorney.
Town Board Minutes Page 6 February 10, 2009
Motion was made by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman Scheffler, to enter into
Executive Session in reference to personnel issues with the Palmers and the Attorney Monty at
8:13 pm.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
Motion was made to return to Regular Session by Supervisor Morey, seconded by Councilman
Scheffler, at 8:22 pm.
Ayes - Sovocool, Scheffler, Clark, Morey
Supervisor Morey- Let the record show that nothing was decided.
Announcements:
➢ Zoning Board of Appeals, February 18 at 7:00 pm.
➢ Planning Board, February 19 at 7:30 pm
➢ Winterfest, February 14 at the Elementary School
➢ NYS Association of Towns Annual Conference in New York City, February 17-20
There being no further business, Councilman Sovocool moved to adjourn, seconded by
Councilman Scheffler, at 8:24 pm. Unanimous.
April L. Scheffler, RMC
Town Clerk